Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, made an important and at the same time concerning admission to journalists of The War Zone regarding Ukrainian losses and the results of successful Ukrainian actions in the Black Sea
According to him, the crews of two Russian multi-role Su-30 fighters, which were destroyed by Ukrainian drones on May 2, had no chance of survival. Budanov reported that Ukrainian special forces from GUR Group 13 used sea-based unmanned platforms Magura-7 to deploy AIM-9 air-to-air missiles, which were the direct means of striking the two Russian aircraft. "The crew of the first Su-30 was rescued by chance — they were saved thanks to a civilian vessel that was in the Black Sea," he noted. At the same time, the second Russian fighter was destroyed in the area of occupied Crimea, and unfortunately, the crew of that aircraft did not survive. The intelligence chief emphasized that this operation was a historic event for the Ukrainian military command. "We use several missile models on our Magura-7 platforms, but the most effective turned out to be AIM-9," he added. More details about the operation: on May 2, Ukrainian security forces, in cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, carried out a large-scale special operation in the Black Sea near the port of Novorossiysk. It was there that the Russian Su-30 was neutralized, which, based on available information, was armed with aviation missiles and equipped with unmanned platforms for naval use. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian military also struck a second Russian aircraft that day — already in occupied Crimea, confirming Ukraine’s intent to actively act and strike the enemy even in sectors farthest from its territory. The events of May 2 became yet another vivid demonstration of Ukraine’s high level of military skill and ability to utilize modern technologies in the fight against the aggressor. This message serves as a significant signal to Russian troops — Ukrainian forces gained new experience in destroying the opponent’s high-tech military aviation using advanced drones and missile systems. Thus, the destruction of two Su-30s is not only a symbolic victory but also a practical proof that Ukrainian defense is capable of countering the most modern Russian aviation. At the same time, Ukrainian officials emphasize that this incident is just part of a long-standing struggle for their independence and security in the maritime and air spaces.